I want to share with you, one of my personal favorite letters from an American author I’m sure you’re all acquainted with. This is a letter sent to his son two years prior to wining the Noble price of literature. As you may have notice, Sam and I have starred wearing the engagement rings. He carries it in the neck, while I carry it in my ring finger. Wearing the rings may have a different meaning for each and every one of us.
In our case; It is not to continue with tradition, for we do not care for that. It is not to show each other our love, for we have well rooted within ourselves the answer to weather we love each other. Is to show the world we are half, without the whole. To show not that we are jealous if someone might try to pull us apart, for we simply won’t. Neither he, nor I. Would feel jealous if someone feels desire for either of us. For it is not because we are afraid to loose one another. Rather.. to show with pride, we don’t want anyone else than each other.
New York
November 10, 1958
We had your letter this morning. I will answer it from my point of view and of course Elaine will from hers.
First, if you are in love, that’s a good thing, that’s about the best thing that can happen to anyone. Don’t let anyone make it small or light to you.
Second, There are several kinds of love. One is a selfish, mean, grasping, egotistical thing which uses love for self-importance. This is the ugly and crippling kind. The other is an outpouring of everything good in you, of kindness and consideration and respect, not only the social respect of manners but the greater respect which is recognition of another person as unique and valuable. The first kind can make you sick and small and weak but the second can release in you strength, and courage and goodness and even wisdom you didn’t know you had.
You say this is not puppy love. If you feel so deeply, of course it isn’t puppy love.
But I don’t think you were asking me what you feel. You know better than anyone. What you wanted me to help you with is what to do about it, and that I can tell you.
Glory in it for one thing and be very glad and grateful for it.
The object of love is the best and most beautiful. Try to live up to it.
If you love someone, there is no possible harm in saying so, only you must remember that some people are very shy and sometimes the saying must take that shyness into consideration.
Girls have a way of knowing or feeling what you feel, but they usually like to hear it also.
It sometimes happens that what you feel is not returned for one reason or another, but that does not make your feeling less valuable and good.
Lastly, I know your feeling because I have it and I’m glad you have it.
We will be glad to meet Susan. She will be very welcome. But Elaine will make all such arrangements because that is her province and she will be very glad to. She knows about love too and maybe she can give you more help than I can.
And don’t worry about losing. If it is right, it happens, The main thing is not to hurry. Nothing good gets away.
Letter to his son Thomas
–John Steinbeck, 1958.
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